Vehicle Description
1956 Oldsmobile Starfire Series 98 Holiday
Detroit in the late Fifties was turning out cars that were getting
bigger, brasher and flashier and yet, some would say, less
functional in terms of practicality and driving enjoyment. In the
styling departments at most of the major manufacturers it was a
case of who could out-chrome who, and Oldsmobile was no exception.
In 1956, Oldsmobile's advertising described the new Oldsmobiles as
'Starfire-styled', and by 1957 Starfire had become a nameplate on
the '98 Series Holiday Coupe and Sedan models.
For consignment, a beautiful example of the 1957 Oldsmobile
Starfire Series 98 Holiday. This example appears much like the '57
Chevy Bel Air of the day with similar design properties, roofline
and glass, and body styling. It has just 27,069 original 2 owner
from new miles. It has only been driven 2,000 miles since its
inspection in 1974! Olds was meant to be a step up from the Bel Air
which was wildly popular at the time. This car is adorned with
chrome and a second color dip spear, wrap around glass for the
front and rear and has its original 371ci V8 under the hood. Let's
Jetaway with the Hydramatic 4-speed automatic and go show off a
bit, turn the key!
Exterior
All straight steel panels are bathed in Gold Mist Metallic and
overall, there are a few faults in the finish. Some scratches and
dings but no real rust noted. A second color has been introduced,
that being Festival Red and it's very subtle as it is a stripe that
is within a chrome trimming that begins at the rear upper doors and
takes a dive downward to the mid rear quarter then races to the
back of the car. On the front quarter is another solid chromed
spear which begins just past the mid quarter and runs over the
wheel well and dies in mid door in a point, (spear!). A wonderfully
stylish Ninety-Eight badge hovers just above and an oval with stars
has a spear dissecting it on the same angle as the type font. Bel
Air looking headlamps are on front and have an eye like bezel
surrounding them. On the top edge of the quarters is a stylish jet
plane ornament in chrome. The lower grille and bumper setup uses a
large bumper with an upper and lower piece stretching across the
front of the car. In the middle is a chrome mesh with O L D S M O B
I L E in a toothy grin lavishing its center. Wrap around front
glass has a metal visor above and on the back the roofline almost
takes on a fastback look with a central rear glass and 2 wrap
around B pillar windows. The back of the car does not have fins per
se, but rolled over bump ups at the tops of the rear quarters which
culminate in a large bezeled and tri star chrome insert tail light.
Vertical ribbed back-up lights bridge the gap between the
taillights and bumper which is also large and in charge and has the
exhaust with the bumper. A fine example with wide whites all around
and shiny turbine style dish wheel coverings.
Interior
As I open the doors to slip inside, I'm greeted with two tone
saddle leather and broadcloth in white and beige. These two leather
colors interplay on the panels with the darker insert and edges and
a lighter band surrounding the darker leather. In the center is a
rolled panel using broadcloth that actually has some metal threads
in it. This forms an integrated armrest and with the vertical tube
like rolls looks just fab. Inside showroom seats are in and these
use the light tan and beige leather as their bolsters and sides and
in the centers are more tube rolled broadcloth inserts. It drips
1950's and reminds me of some of the old speaker coverings you'd
see on your hi-fi! Olds designers got it right for the dash which
uses a beige metal painted top and a band of wide chrome for the
center. In front of the driver an oval speedometer and gauge
cluster. Also, an oval clock is seen on the dash top. The bottom of
the dash is rolled in metal panels and is painted tan. Heavy use of
polished knobs, turns, and pulls are nestled with this central
chrome band that stretches across the dash center and includes the
factory radio. A large bakelite cream steering wheel rim has a
circular horn ring in the center and an oval badge at the top of
the column. Just beautifully designed and showing off its high-end
car that sets it way above the Bel Air. Brown carpeting is below
and above a beige smooth vinyl headliner with chrome stretchers
between the panels.
Drivetrain
Under the hood is the original 371ci V8. It is fed by a single
4-barrel carburetor and has a Jetaway Hydramatic 4-speed automatic,
(don't you just love these aircraft references they used in the
50's?!). The rear axle is a 3.42 setup.
Undercarriage
Some surface rust throughout and patina but all solid under this
beauty. Suspension is independent coil spring for the front and
leaf springs for the back with power drum braking on all 4 corners.
Exhaust is looking newer with no rust.
Drive-Ability
If you cannot tell from my extensive descriptions, I can tell you
for free I love these big late 50's cars. I jumped anxiously into
this one and drove it for several miles and enjoyed every minute of
it. All functions were working, and it was a great turnkey
driver.
A cut above for this Olds Holiday Starfire 98. Dripping with 50's
styling and chrome, and interior to die for. Turn the key and put a
smile on your face with this ultra-low mileage example.
VIN DECODE
579W04392
57-1957
9-Ninety Eight
W-Wilmington, DE Assy Plant
04392-Sequential Unit Number
TRIM TAG
STYLE NO 57 3039sd-1957 Oldsmobile Starfire Series 98 Holiday
Sedan
BODY NO BW141?-Wilmington Body #
TRIM NO 396-Saddle Leather, White Vinyl, Saddle Broadcloth
PAINT NO 91 91 20 20-Gold Mist Metallic, Festival Red
Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special
interest automobile showroom, featuring over 650 vehicles for sale
with showroom space for up to 1,000 vehicles. Also, a 400 vehicle
barn find collection is on display.
This vehicle is located in our showroom in Morgantown,
Pennsylvania, conveniently located just 1-hour west of Philadelphia
on the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. The website is
www.classicautomall.com and our phone number is (888) 227-0914.
Please contact us anytime for more information or to come see the
vehicle in person.
